Police to release new evidence in inquiry

Mar. 4, 2008

Written by

Fast Fact

New information about evidence in the Brianna Denison case can be obtained about 10:30 a.m. Thursday on the city of Reno Web site, www.cityofreno.com. There will be a special link for the Denison investigation under "In the News."The new Web page dedicated to the Denison investigation features suspect information, links to news releases, photos of evidence and where to call with tips.

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Reno police plan to reveal on Thursday morning new information about evidence found during the Brianna Denison investigation.

The news conference coincides with an update on the city Web site about new DNA evidence and new evidence connected to the case, police said. Investigators said Monday the killer's DNA was not found on a pair of panties discovered Feb. 15 with Denison's body, but he did put the underwear there.

"There is absolutely no doubt the offender left them there," Lt. Robert McDonald said.

McDonald said the Washoe County Crime Laboratory did not err on the DNA evidence from the underwear, first reported by police as the suspect's DNA. He said it was a misstatement to the media by investigators.

"From the beginning, the lab had stated the offender's DNA was not on there," he said. "It was never an error made by the lab."

The size small black thong panties with the Pink Panther emblem and hearts contained DNA from an unknown man and unknown woman, police said. McDonald again encouraged the owner of the panties to come forward as she has knowledge that can help identify the suspect.

Police said Denison's killer is a serial sexual predator linked by DNA to sexual attacks on college students near the University of Nevada, Reno campus Nov. 13 and Dec. 16. An Oct. 22 rape at gunpoint in a UNR parking garage is believed to be connected, although there is no forensic link.

Police said DNA also links the suspect to the attempted burglary of the December victim's apartment hours before Denison was abducted Jan. 20 as she slept on a friend's couch in a home on MacKay Court. Denison, a Reno High School graduate, was home from a Santa Barbara, Calif., college when she was abducted.

On a Saturday night broadcast of "America's Most Wanted," McDonald revealed for the first time that the suspect also stole a pair of underwear from one of the previous victims. That generated about 50 tips, police said.

About 3,000 other calls have been made to the department's tip line. Personnel from regional law enforcement agencies are being used to run down tips.

McDonald said men have been providing voluntary DNA samples daily to be excluded from being a suspect.

Washoe County crime laboratory Director Renee Romero has said that the backlog of 3,000 offender DNA samples likely will be eliminated by mid-March. As of Tuesday, she said there had been no positive DNA links to Denison's case or the sexual attacks from samples entered into the state and national databases.

McDonald said a preliminary profile from the FBI said the suspect is a younger, unassuming man who blends well into the community, likely with no or little criminal history and an introvert who likes to be in the background. He would not be a recognizable as a "monster."

"He is someone's boyfriend or husband, or the co-worker you have coffee with," McDonald said of the profile.